Translation guide
The English phrase "settle down" has several distinct meanings. This guide breaks them down into practical uses: becoming calm, starting a stable life, getting comfortable, and more. Japanese expressions vary widely depending on the intended meaning.
To stop being noisy, excited, or restless; to calm down.
The most common and natural way to say "settle down" in the sense of becoming calm. Used for people, situations, or atmospheres.
The children finally settled down.
Please settle down the excited audience.
Means to become quiet or still. Often used for noise, wind, or commotion settling down.
The storm settled down.
Let's wait until the commotion settles down.
Transitive form meaning to calm someone or something down.
She settled down the crying baby.
To begin living a quiet, steady life, often after a period of change or excitement; to get married and have a family.
Idiomatic phrase meaning to settle down, especially by getting married and establishing a stable life. Often used for men.
It's about time he settled down.
Also used for settling into a stable life or place. Can refer to finding a permanent home or job.
A common phrase specifically meaning to get married and settle down.
To make oneself comfortable in a seat or location, often for a long stay.
Again, the versatile 落ち着く works for settling into a physical space and feeling at home.
I sat on the sofa and settled down.
Literally "set one's hips," meaning to settle oneself firmly in a place, often with determination to stay.
Means to relax or take it easy. Often used when inviting someone to settle down and stay a while.
Please settle down and make yourself comfortable.
For particles in a liquid or loose material to sink to the bottom and become compact.
For a situation, weather, or condition to become stable and predictable.
To stop being distracted and start concentrating on work or a task.
The English phrase "settle down" cannot be translated word-for-word into Japanese. The meaning depends heavily on context. Using a single Japanese word for all cases will often sound unnatural.
The verb 落ち着く (おちつく) covers many meanings of "settle down," including calming down, settling into a place, and situations stabilizing. It's a safe choice in many contexts.
Settle down, kids!
I want to settle down and have a family.
The dust settled down after a few hours.
都会の生活に疲れて、田舎に落ち着きたい。
I'm tired of city life and want to settle down in the countryside.
He settled down in a small town and started a family.
Literally "settle one's hips," meaning to settle down in a place for a long time, often after moving around.
He settled down in Japan and started working.
She says she wants to get married and settle down.
He settled down in the chair and started reading a book.
砂が水の底に沈んだ。
The sand settled down to the bottom of the water.
Wait until the political situation settles down.
Settle down and face the exam.